Coaster for holding drinking vessels



May 30, 1939. ,E. c. RICHARDS GOASTER FOR HOLDING DRINKING VESSELS Filed Feb. 9, 1957 INVEN TbR.

a B a M wz Patented May 30, 1939 COASTER FOR HOLDING DRINKING VESSELS Edith C. Richards, South Portland, Maine, assignor to The Watson Company, Attleboro, Mass, a corporation of Massachusetts Application February 9, 1937, Serial No. 124,857

1 Claim.

This invention relates to an improvement in coasters for holding drinking vessels.

One object of the invention is to provide a coaster which will hold a spoon in addition to the drinking vessel which it is intended to carry. Another object is to provide such a coaster in which the means for holding the spoon is not on the outer rim of the coaster but is so located in the device that it is not liable to be bent or broken off. Another object of the invention is to provide such a coaster with holding means extending entirely around its axis so that the spoon may be held at any 'point throughout 360. Other objects will appear from the description and drawing annexed thereto in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the coaster with a glass and a spoon therein,

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the coaster with a spoon held therein shown in broken lines,

Fig. 3 is a cross-section in line 33 of Fig. 2 and Fig. 4 is a similar cross-section of a modification.

As shown in Figs. 1-3, a preferred form of the invention consists of a shallow saucer I having an outer annular portion 2 preferably of metal, as aluminum, silver or tin, for example, and an inner bottom portion 3, consisting of a substantially flat disk, preferably of transparent material as glass. The outer portion comprises the peripheral wall 4 and an inner upright ridge 5, which are shown as concentric and circular though they are not necessarily circular.

The disk is of a diameter slightly greater than that of the usual drinking vessel with which it is intended to be used. The outer wall 4 may be curved inwardly toward the bottom and the inner ridge is integral therewith. The ridge 5 is reversely curved to provide an external bead 6 and an internal groove"! at or near the top thereof. The curving of the ridge also provides an external or outwardly opening groove 8 immediately adjacent the curved wall 4 for accommodating the edges of the bowl of a spoon.

just referred to and is held there.

If preferred the disk may be inserted and the metal worked over its edge after it is in place.

In either case the spoon holding groove 8 is provided on the exterior periphery of the ridge.

The modification shown in Fig. 4 is unitary and may be made of earthen ware if desired. In this modification the outer annular portion and the disk bottom are constructed integrally, the disk bottom 9 rising from the bottom of the coaster to a small height and a groove l0 being formed in the exterior thereof immediately adjacent the upper surface of the annular portion. Otherwise this modification is similar to the one shown in Figs. 1-3.

In use, the outer wall of the coaster will guide the edge of the spoon bowl to a position under the inner ridge and it will, with little or no manipulation, catch under the bead at the upper edge of the ridge and be held there.

It cannot slip into the space normally occupied by the drinking vessel when said vessel is lifted from the coaster and it will not fall out of the coaster being held by the bead.

The convenience of such a device is too clear to need enlargement thereon.

Having thus described the invention what I claim is:

bowl of a spoon.

EDITH C. RICHARDS. 

